Feral cat fans doing more harm than good, say caretakers

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A feral cat walks across the Los Gatos Creek Trail in Campbell. The volunteer group Community Cats of Campbell has been caring for the feral cat colony near the trail for nearly 20 years. (George Sakkestad/Staff Photographer)

Felines have been spotted along the Los Gatos Creek Trail in Campbell—just not the kind you can pet. And that’s exactly how one group wants to keep them, but efforts are being undermined by well-intentioned neighbors.

For nearly 20 years, the colony of feral felines have been fed daily and trapped for spaying or neutering as needed, according to Debbie Bone, a member of the Campbell Community Cats group.

Campbell Police Capt. Joe Cefalu confirmed that the all-volunteer group is currently caring for approximately 20 cats.

Volunteers “feed them for a period of time and then bring the food back in,” Cefalu said.

Now, what the department calls “rogue feeders” are leaving small piles of cat food along the trail closest to the Avalon apartments.

“There are, and have been for years, many others who walk the trail and want to feed the cats,” Bone said in an email to this newspaper. “They have good intentions; however, we are trying to get the word out to all that these cats are cared for by us, and to please not feed them.”

Signs posted nearly three-quarters of a mile into the trail starting from Campbell Park explain that feeding animals in parks or on park trails is prohibited by the city. According to Cefalu, citations have been given out by the Silicon Valley Animal Control Authority and the police department to the same person for feeding the animals.

“The fines do increase with each subsequent citation,” Cefalu said.

Cefalu said residents and businesses in the area have complained of skunks and other animals coming to the nearby areas looking for the cat food that’s been left out.

“We run into (the cats) all the time,” said South Bay Clean Creeks Coalition founder and executive director Steve Holmes.

Holmes says during past creek cleanups, his group has come across small plastic containers with food and water that end up in the creek, becoming an environmental hazard for other wildlife that live near or in the creek.

“People think they’re doing good,” Holmes said, adding that feeding the feral cats impacts birds, squirrels and the many other mammals, fish and reptiles that call the creek home.

According to Humane Society of the United States, a feral cat is born to a stray or another feral cat and is not accustomed to human interaction. Feral cats are too fearful to be handled or domesticated. Within the U.S. approximately two percent of the 30 to 40 million feral and stray cats have been spayed or neutered. The way to spot a neutered or spayed cat is by a clipped ear.

In 2014, the city of Campbell adopted an ordinance prohibiting the feeding of animals along the trail, but the volunteer group, police department and animal control authority have tried to figure out a solution to care for the animals in a safe and healthy way.

“At present, we are feeding with permission on Avalon grounds for six months,” Bone said in her email. “We have long-term goals in place and will continue to work closely with Campbell PD, SVACA and Avalon” to come up with a permanent plan to care for the cats.

Jasmine Leyva is a writer for the Silicon Valley Community Newspapers reporting on news in the city of Campbell. She is a San Jose State University alum, enjoys reading and can be found practicing yoga in her spare time.

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